Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestant Christianity, founded in 1516 by the German monk and priest Martin Luther. Luther disagreed with transsubstantiation (the wine and bread of a church convert to Jesus' blood and wine, respectively, when a priest blesses them), arguing for consubstantiation (the body and bread coexist together, and the wine and blood coexist together). He also opposed the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church, the sale of church offices to wealthy priests, the corruption in the church, and the infallibility of the Pope and the priests, arguing that every baptized Christian was a member of the priesthood. Lutheranism would become a very popular religion in northern Germany, Scandinavia, Britain, and Bohemia, and it is currently one of the largest Protestant denominations.